Do flatwounds without the silks exist?

[Reggaebass]

2 minutes ago, Pauld said:

I think they’re D’addario chromes. Mine have blue silks, and only D’addario make strings with different coloured ball ends.

Yeah Pauld, because my D’addario tapes have different colour ball ends too 

[Matt P]

and for super nerdiness i think that Fender colour the ball ends on their strings too (at least the last set of Fender g****r strings i bought had coloured ends)

5 minutes ago, jrixn1 said:

I think you're right about the Chromes, but out of string nerdiness Rotosound also have coloured ball-ends (red, white, and blue).  (And Rotosounds flats would be red silks, so it's not those.)

 

[Reggaebass]

I love this nerdiness 😂

[hooky_lowdown]

21 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

I love this nerdiness 😂

D'Addario make Fender strings, probably why both brands have coloured ball ends. Maybe they make Roto's as well?!?

[Dam1903]

If it helps Labella 760fs-b come with black silks at the tuner end and no silk at the ball end.. The ball ends are all unpainted brass.. At least my last set did. 

 

 

[stewblack]

While we're at it. Is it actually silk? 

[Dam1903]

It seems to fray like silk but who knows.. I guess you could bleach it and dye it any colour you want, just dipping the ends of the strings... It would be nice to have the silks match headstock colour I guess... 

[Reggaebass]

I read somewhere that, Curt mangan used to do flatwound strings with no silk either end , I believe they are still available    https://www.curtmangan.com/45-105-stainless-flatwound-bass-guitar-string-set/

[Soledad]

On 11/04/2020 at 12:56, AinsleyWalker said:

but usually they just look crap

Exactly correct, and in so few words too👍
My fave flats are EB Cobalts. They come in a kind of lilac/purple colour...
If there is a tech reason for silks on flats, then FFS use silver grey, or maybe black.

 

[Reggaebass]

I’ve never tried them but don’t Sadowski black label flats have silver grey silk 

[hubrad]

On 11/04/2020 at 13:20, Silvia Bluejay said:

Could be worse... upright bass strings! Both D'Addario and Innovation Silver/Gold Slaps, to name a couple, have a different-coloured silk on each string!

Thing is, I love that in DB strings, as it's an identifier. If (when) we experiment, it's gonna be for months at a time so this way we can remember which set is which. As for Pirastro, with the different colours up at the head, that's for when our failing eyes can no longer tell thick from thin..

There used to be a useful chart of DB silk colours somewhere, possibly Gollihur site.

[hubrad]

For reference,  here are the D'Addario and Rotosound ball colour charts. 

That D'Addario set is on a bass.. no silks, albeit they are rounds.

The Rotosound pack is still sealed, so can't say just now re silks.

Iirc Picato often (but not always!) were made silk-free.

[EssentialTension]

1 minute ago, hubrad said:

Iirc Picato often (but not always!) were made silk-free.

 

Some years ago, Picato flats used to have no silk but then I think they changed to silk and perhaps are now out of business.

[Clarky]

1 hour ago, EssentialTension said:

Some years ago, Picato flats used to have no silk but then I think they changed to silk and perhaps are now out of business.

I think they are still going. There are some ultra cheap black nylon flatwounds on Amazon. However, they have silks so not what the OP is after

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Picato-String-Tapewound-Electric-Strings/dp/B07ZBCD4K7